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Review

Biomarkers in melanoma: staging, prognosis and detection of early metastases

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Pages 303-330 | Published online: 09 Jan 2014

References

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  • •Demonstrates that histologic findings of vascular invasion in the primary melanoma independently predicts for poor survival and metastasis.
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  • •Identifies characteristics such as spindle cell phenotype and low mitotic rate that correlate with survival in thick melanomas.
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  • •Excellent review of current aspects and controversies of pathologic staging.
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  • •Highlights a need for improved reporting and reproducibility in pathologic reporting of melanoma
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  • •Good review of prognostic factors in melanoma.
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  • ••Excellent review of molecular markers foundto be independent predictors of outcome.
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  • •Loss of melastatin in Stage land II independently predicted poor survival. Tests such as this could potentially be used to direct staging investigations and therapy.
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  • •Underscores the role of chromosomal instability in the natural history of melanoma as greater loss of alleles independently predicted for poor outcome.
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  • •Developed a two-step multifactorial formula (based on the five variables: gender, age, anatomical site, thickness and ulceration) to determine likelihood for recurrence of melanoma using readily available demographic information.
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